Ex-New Order bassist Peter Hook will dig through his celebrated musical past this spring, embarking on a U.K. spoken-word tour and performing a set of Joy Division songs at his new Manchester club on the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis’ death.

Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness recently took a break from recording the band’s follow-up to 2004’s ‘Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll’ at Hurley Studios in Costa Mesa, Calif., to chat with Hurley’s in-house musician/model Davey Warsop.

The irascible Mark E. Smith — who turns 53 today — next month will release his 28th studio album under the banner of The Fall, the ragged, love-’em-or-hate-’em postpunk act that has churned through dozens of members since debuting in 1976.

The four-track ‘Minuteflag’ EP was recorded 25 years ago this week as a one-off jam by the members of Black Flag and the Minutemen, but not released until a year later following the death of the latter band’s D. Boon.

The reconstituted Public Image Ltd. this morning announced three more U.S. concerts — April 28 in Pontiac, Mich.; April 30 Milwaukee, Wis.; and May 16 in Northampton, Mass. — on the band’s post-Coachella tour this spring.

The short career of enigmatic Liverpool indie-pop act The La’s will be celebrated this spring with Callin’ All, a four-disc, 91-track box set that compiles singles, b-sides, unreleased outtakes and live material — and no fewer than six versions of ‘There She Goes,’ the band’s signature tune.

Universal Music next month releases ‘Legend: Rarities Edition,’ yet another version of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ beloved 1984 greatest-hits disc, which remains the best selling reggae album of all time.

Robyn Hitchcock has just released a new video for ‘Ordinary Millionaire,’ a song co-written with The Smiths’ Johnny Marr that serves as the first single off the 3-years-in-the-making ‘Propellor Time.’

A group of Israeli human rights activists have asked the Pixies to cancel their June 9 concert in Tel Aviv to protest ‘the military occupation the Palestinian people have been living under,’ urging the reunited band to ‘refuse to perform in Israel until there is freedom here.’

While Matt Johnson continues to preview new The The music on his monthly “Radio Cineola” podcasts, the March edition has a real surprise: the debut of ‘No Hiding Place,’ a previously unheard track from his unreleased 1979 album ‘Spirits.’

Originally due out Feb. 16, the much-anticipated deluxe 3CD edition of The Cure’s 1989 masterpiece, ‘Disintegration,’ has been delayed again — this time until May.

Norwegian pop outfit a-ha today doubled the number of North American cities it’ll hit on its “Ending on a High Note” farewell tour, announcing concerts in Toronto on May 10 and Chicago on May 13.

Bassist Eric Avery made it official this morning, announcing via Twitter that he has quit Jane’s Addiction for a second time as the rockers have now wrapped up their rescheduled tour of Australia — the final dates of a reunion that started with last year’s joint trek with Nine Inch Nails.